Our Mission
Southern Coalition for Social Justice’s (SCSJ) Justice System Reform Program promotes social, economic, and racial justice by focusing on directly affected communities who bear the brunt of our deeply flawed and intractably racist system of mass incarceration. Informed and led by community input, we use litigation, organizing, issue advocacy campaigns, communications, and expert policy analysis in a braided approach to disrupt, dismantle, and reimagine. Our work seeks to support, protect, and empower safe and healthy communities while creating a less punitive, more accountable criminal legal system.
Our Work
Support Second Chances
SCSJ helps individuals who have experienced involvement with the criminal legal system to navigate the reentry process.
End Mass Incarceration
SCSJ seeks to reduce the number of people entering and remaining in the criminal legal system.
Promote Youth Justice
SCSJ supports communities of color and grassroots organizations working to end the over-criminalization of youth.
Reframing Public Safety
SCSJ explores and interrogates policies and practices that increase public safety and center justice for all.
How We Advance Justice System Reform
Education & Resources
SCSJ is committed to empowering community members through education. We provide digital and physical educational resources that advocate for accessible expungement processes, support the decriminalization of youth, and encourage community members to know their legal rights.
Accountability Litigation
SCSJ holds state and local officials accountable through litigation when they abuse their authority. Representing historically marginalized individuals and communities, we initiate lawsuits against municipalities, counties, and other governmental entities to ensure that unlawful or unconstitutional practices and policies cease.
Investing in Youth Justice
SCSJ envisions a future in which young people of color attend schools that lift them up, not pat them down. Through opportunities like Youth Justice Project, we invest in mentorship-based programs to achieve educational justice and liberation.
Justice System Reform News
Locals Fight Back Against Secret Deal to Relocate Edenton Confederate Monument to Chowan County Courthouse
EDENTON, N.C. (Jan. 3, 2025) –– A group of Eastern North Carolina residents is suing the Town of Edenton and the Chowan County Board of Commissioners over their secret plan to move the town’s controversial Confederate monument to the Chowan County Courthouse. Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) filed a lawsuit Friday, Jan. 3, 2025,…
Read More Locals Fight Back Against Secret Deal to Relocate Edenton Confederate Monument to Chowan County Courthouse
Gov. Cooper Grants Historic Death Row Commutations
DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 31, 2024) – Today, Gov. Roy Cooper made history by commuting 15 death sentences to life without parole – including a Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) client – marking a significant shift away from the death penalty in North Carolina. His decision comes after increasingly pressing calls for him to use…
Read More Gov. Cooper Grants Historic Death Row Commutations
Justice System Reform Cases
Key Contacts
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Dominique Erney Counsel and Fellow, Justice System Reformdominique@scsj.org -
Ian Courts Counsel, Justice System Reformianc@scsj.org
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Janki Kaneria Counsel, Justice System Reformjanki@scsj.org
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Jake Sussman Interim Chief Counsel, Justice System Reformjsussman@scsj.org
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Tanita Holmes Counsel, Justice System Reformtanita@scsj.org
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Sala Abdallah Community Organizersalaabdallah@scsj.org
